William Cameron
The Paw Print
Birmingham, Ala.—
The latest immigration debate is now in session. In Alabama new laws have come into action that have sent illegal immigrants running before they get kicked out.
HB 56 has been, for the most part, upheld by U.S. District Judge Sharon Blackburn. Sections of this law conflict with rulings in Arizona and Georgia, increasing the chances that it will soon appear in the Supreme Court.
The law requires officers to ask “suspected illegal immigrants” for proof of residence during routine traffic stops. Those lacking citizenship, or proof thereof, can be jailed without bond. The new law also voids contracts in which illegal immigrants participated and makes schools verify the immigration status of students during registration.
As a result of these stringent ordinances many Hispanics have already left the state fearing prosecution. Nearly 2,000 Hispanic students in Alabama were absent from school September 30, two days after the ruling. Families have sold homes, packed up, and left.
Those who have not left try to make plans for a day when they do not come home. Parents whose children are legal citizens seek guardians to look after their children in the event of deportation.
“We are living day to day because we do not know what will happen tomorrow,” said one undocumented immigrant through a translator. “Every time I go out of my house I pray to God, ‘Help us come back.’”
Other families will take their children with them if forced to leave.
“We’re afraid to go back to Mexico because of the drugs, the cartels and the killings,” said one woman with three young kids. “And we are afraid to stay here because of the law.”
Blackburn upheld parts of the law that were eventually rejected in Arizona, another state that has recently passed strict immigration laws. The Justice Department may still appeal parts of the law if the opportunity presents itself.
“The department is reviewing the decision to determine next steps,” said a department spokeswoman. “We will continue to evaluate state immigration-related laws and will not hesitate to bring suit if, in fact, a state creates its own immigration policy or enforces state laws in a manner that interferes with federal immigration law.”
A variety of other groups have challenged the law, calling parts of it unconstitutional. While some parts where withheld, it is likely that minor rewrites would be sufficient to pass them.
“We’re really disappointed,” said an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union. “We already know that this is going to cause a lot of problems in Alabama.”
However, supporters of the law call it a success. Gov. Robert Bentley, who signed the statute into law, says that parts that didn’t pass will be appealed.
“Today Judge Blackburn upheld the majority of our law,” Gov. Robert Bentley said. “With those parts that were upheld, we have the strongest immigration law in the country.”
In theory the laws will open up the job market in a fallen economy, although the immediate effects are labor shortages in agriculture and construction businesses.
“This decision really gives the anti-immigration folks more of a victory than they’ve been getting in other courts. There’s a lot for them to be happy about,” said law professor Peter Spiro, but “This is not the last word on the constitutionality of this statute.”
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